[tied] Re: ka and k^a

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

> ***
> Patrick:
>
> Obviously, I did not express my thought unambiguously.
>
> I certainly will grant that height contrast is fundamental.
>
> My point was rather, if the pre-PIE front vowel was [i] or [e] (two
> front vowels of different heights), what difference would it make
> for reconstruction purposes? My answer is: none that I can see; but
> Miguel has not yet commented, and pre-PIE *i, *a, and *u is his
> reconstruction proposal. I have proposed pre-PIE *e, *a, and *o.
>
> ***

I also pointed out that /i a u/ is more phonologically likely than /e
a o/. So, it would be best to favor the more realistic possibility,
given what we know.

- Rob

- Rob